The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-06-04
The BLUE HENS EGGS.
An Old Fellow Who Was Much Taken
With New Species of Chickens.

grocer had temptingly arranged in
front of his store. ''Look thar" the
woman repeated, pointing at the eggs.
''They air a new wrinkle on my
hon" said the old fellow, taking up
one of the eggs and examining it.
'These here" he added. addressing the
grocer who approached muster been
laid by one NV the ole blue hens
chickens"
'They are direct descendants from
the old blue hen, sure enough" the
grocer replied, who showed an accomO-
dating quickness to tell lie, either
through courtesy or with an eye to
business.
you don't say So"
Eyes. sir, and 1 bought them for Mr..
Garland, who sent me word some time
ago to get him few if l possibly could"
"Wall, Gus ought to know whit good
chickens air"
"He undoubtedly does"
"Wall, I've heard about the old blue
hens chickens all my life, but this is
the fust time ever seed any NV the
aigs."
'They are not very plentiful now,"
said the grocer. I'm fact, they are
bought up by the agents of monopolies
and sent North for the use of rich rail
road men,"
The chickens, 1 reckon, lay over the
common run of fowls.''
"As much, sir, as day lays over
night"
"Whut special advantage have they
gotp"
swell, they lay three times a day,
for one thing"
Now, look here, you don't mean
! that"
81 reckon he do, pap" the woman
declared. 81 know in reason that he
do, fur Aunt Caroline Welsh that had
some in Moth Kliny, told me jest befo'
she died that they wuz the outlayenist
things she ever seed, an says she: 'Ev-
erline, do b'lieve that the aigs is
fresher than the aigs NV these here COM
mon chickens
"She was right" said the grocer.
''Mr. Garland tells me that the eggs
will keep for years without spelling,
but" he added, laughingly, "if he don't
mind he will find that they don't keep
so we'll after all, for if he doesn't come
after them pretty soon I'll sell them.
A business man can't afford to let his
money lie idle. Won know
CHATS a fact the farmer replied.
"Now, whit mout they be wuth?"
"Well, 1 hardly know. Where do
you live?"
son Saline river, about two days ride
from here"
'Do you come to town very often?"
''Fust time | wuz ever here.''
81 thought that if you came to town
very often might engage you to bring
me lot of the chickens when they
hatch. Tell you what I'll do. I'll let
you have all six of them for sixty cents"
"Ain't that putty heavy price,"
30, no, pap" said the woman. "Jest
think Nv chickens that lay aigs-fresh
ones at that-three times day"
''All right" said the old fellow, haul
ing out the toe of an old sock and shak-
ing few dimes from it; 'Tll take 'em.
Shore they'll hatch?"
"Hatch! Why you can cover them
up with an old straw hat and they'll
hatch. Much obliged. Well, call again"
When the grocer went back into the
store, he slapped himself, laughed up
roariously and then said:
ut may be wrong to cheat this way,
but don't believe that we are called
upon to have sympathy for such ignorant
people; and, besides, honest old farmer
as he looks. he d cheat me in minute
if he could.
Several weeks later an old fellow
drove up to a grocery store and asked Il
man who came out to the curbstone if
he wanted to buy any guinea chickens.
"Fresh as they ken be an already
cleaned" said the old fellow.
"What do you ask for them?'
"Wall, l don't know whut they air
wuth. You see they air mighty big
ones"
Eyes, l see. How many have you
got?'
Fifteen"
"There is not much sale for guineas."
'They oughter be with ten cents a
piece, oughtent they?"
The grocer, with shrewd hesitancy,
replied: II don't know. Well, drive
round to the back door and put them
| out"
Immediately after receiving his money
the old fellow drove down town, and,
with woman who seemed to be his
wife, was standing on street corner,
when the grocer who had bought the
guineas rushed up and exclaimed:
"You are lying old wolf, that's
what you areP"
"Whut's the matterP'
"You sold me lot of buzzards, you
old wretch, and am going to have you
arrested if you don't give me back my
money. One of my best customers
bought one and then. discovering what
it was, struck me over the head with it
and then left the store"
"W'y, pap, that was too bad, wan t